Controlling apparatus



Spt. 9, 1939.

J. RYFFEL CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 2, 1927 INVENTOR Patented sept. e, 1930` i 1,775,501. i i

t JOHN RYrrEnfor BRooxLxN,fNnwfYoRx CONTRQLLINGVAPPARATS L @The invention relatesfto combustion controlling apparatus for rfurnaces, more especiallyof thef household' type such `as lthe `ordi-nary steam boiler `furnace -in Iciaommon use-ealthough, with certain modifications of thefheating system, the novel control maybe applied `equally'wellto hotl water heating" apparatus; and comprises a supplementary regulating,attachment therefor. r i t e e L `The invention is adapted especially to heatingV apparatus in whichthere is employed a forced draft for thelire; and it has for its object to accelerate the cut-oft action` of the usual regulator employed-#as the pressure controlled diaphragm apparatus of boiler, `for example, thus equipped for` forcedidraft burning-#andto checlrfefor a predetermined a period throwing into operation" again the a boilers draft producing apparatus, so that overheating by? said furnace willfbe avoided and. economy in fuel consumption effected. A fur-- ther object of the invention `resides in the construction of apparatus which mayreadily andf inexpensively -be installed and which makes it` possible to equiphousehold types of with forced draftfmechanism, peri mitting thereby of the utilizationofcheaper grades of coal, such as No.,` l'buclwheat and im on the usual controlling bar for lever of the rices'izes." ,i v Y v e Y A still A further object resides in the provision of a contact elementand circuit there for whereby thecontrolling electric` motor for the draft-'producing apparatusmay bemanu# ally controlled at theboiler aswell from a point remote therefrom in additionto the automatic control during normal operation.

To this end, the invention comprises a suitably enclosed mercury switch mechanism which` is arranged to be oscillatably mounted pressure-controlled diaphragm apparatus generally associated with household types of steam boilers,provision being made to limit the extent of oscillation of the contact device relatively tosaid bar." i

The nature of the invention will best be understood, however, when describedincon- 1 nection with the accompanying drawings, in

Fig. shows in side elevation` thenovel Aderp'ressure Vinto the ash pit l-2 of the fur` j" c5 regulator l illustrated, for example, fas asso-` ciatedwith a steam boiler andblower appara! tusfor the furnace thereof.H `1 i Fig. 2 is a longitudinal enlarged section throughthe circuit 'controlling member as =55 mounted upon" the `pressurecontrolled da#` phragmlbar member.- i I f l `Fig;` 3 isa diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connectionsinvolved. l e a y e Referring tothe drawings, l() designatesar 56,0:A st eamboilerV of the ordinary household `type but in connection :with which there has been installeda blower 11-"fori`ntroducing air unf! nace. The saidblower is driven by an electric motorfl to which power is supplied by the leads 14C4 through a suitable switch,as the single-pole switch llocated'inproximityto i the furnace, asshown,so `that when it isde` sired to remove ashthe `blower mechanism *270 may"`be shut; o' temporarily a A further switch, as the single-pole switch 16`located at a point remote from the furnace room, may be included in the circuit so that thei'urnace may convenientlybe shutdown by cutting oii" the blower `1l, asin the evening, and like-` wise startingit again inthe morning by closing thecircuit at the switchlG. i y A further contact device isv included inthe motorV circuit",l "and itl` i necessary that all 80 f e -three of these contact devices be closedzbefore the motorV 13 can be energized 1to1 operatethe blower 11. The last-named contact device is i arranged to beinstalled onthe' boiler, 'orf rather, on thelbar or leverl20fof the .pressure` controlled diaphragm apparatus 21of`said boiler; vand said device is :enclosedwithin a protective metal casing 22.` `'elhejlatteig in turn,vis.pivotally ,secured to the said bar. 20

through an `arm 23 `extending `downwardly "QlviV i therefrom and ata point on one side ofthe t'nlcrum `24; `provided on the "pressure-,conj- `trolled diaphragm member 21, the bar20be`- ing provided `with the usual adjustable regu` later" weight or weights 25 "for determining the pressure under which the said barshall tiltl Adjustable* buffer members,` las the ,plates "or stops26, aref provided along fop- `po'site endsl ofjthe casing 22 to limit` the v extent ofoscillation of the casing or contact 2100 device thereof relatively to said bar on either side of the pivotal point 27 through contact of the lower end of said stops with the upper surface of the bar 20. This obviates undue oscillation oi the casing and also provides for the elevation of its depressed end as the corresponding end of the bar 20 moves upwardly under the action of the regulator diaphragm 21. When the casing has been swung upwardly to an extent suliiciently to bring arm 28 beyond a perpendicular' plane, t-he said casing will drop over under its own weight to the opposite side olil the pivotal point 27 and with a rapid or snap action.

This action is utilized to make a quick con.- tact or to rapidly break the same as the -Case may be; and to this end there is mounted within the casing a suitable container as the L-shaped glass tube 30 containing mercury 31 but which does not completely fill said tube. At the one end of the tube or :toot portion of the L-member two Contact elements 32 are introduced and sealed into the said tube, the same extending when the tube is depressed at the opposite end in manner such that the mercury is not in contact with said elements, or at least not in contact with one of the same. These contact elements Vare included in series in circuit with the switch devices 15 and 1.6; and unless the circuit is closed at said elements 32, as well as the aforesaid devices 15 and 16, no current will be supplied for op erating the motor 13. Y

In the tilted position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the mercury 31 is substantially free of both of the said elements 32 and no contact is made thereat so that the blower is cut off from the furnace and the heat ot the same will, therefore, gradually fall oil. Vhen this has reached a predetermined degree, casing 22 will be elevated at the previously `depressed end under the action ot the gradually upwardly moving bar portion until arm 23 is upon the opposite side ot the perpendicular, whereupon the casing drops until it is stopped through contact of the correspond* ing stop member 26 with the upper surface of the opposite end of the bar. By this action, the mercury 31 flows rapidly to the other end of the tube covering both of the contact elements 32 and closes thereby the circuit through the same. This, if the other'contact devices 15 and 16 are closed, will cause the blower to start up again; and as the temperature gradually increases the said contact end of the Casing will be elevated under' the upward motion of bar 2O until arm 24 rocks past the perpendicular position, whereupon said casing with tube drops quickly downwardly into the depressed position shown, making also thereby a quick break of the circuit at the contact elements32. This cuts oli" the current to the motor and shuts down the blower,

the cycle being repeated as the furnace cools down.

By this expedient, a very simple and substantial contact-making device may be associated with the usual regulator bar or lever and is actuated thereby to control the urnace operation. The casing 22 embodies a substantial and suitably sealed member, while the glass or like container therein tor the contact-making mercury is absolutely sealed against foreign matter and the contacts 32 will therefore always be in the best condition for making or breaking contact. The snap eiect or quick action of break and make, due to the sudden over-balancing, Jfurther insures continuous operation and long life ot the contact elements 32.

I claim:

1. A contact controlling device, comprising a tiltable support, means to oscillate the same in accordance with conditions to be regulated by the contact device, a casing pivotally mounted upon and carried by said tiltable support, and a mercuryY Contact member mounted within said casing.

2,. A contact controlling device, compris.- ing a tiltable support,"` means to oscillate the same in accordance with conditions tobe regulated by the contact device, acasing pivotally mounted upon and carried by said tiltable'support, the ends of the casing being adapted .for engagement with said support to limit the extent of its pivotal movement and for effecting elevation of. an end witheorresponding movement of the support, and a mercury Contact member mounted within said casing.

3. A contact controlling device, compris ing a tiltable support, means to oscillate the same in accordance with lconditions to be regulated by the contact device, a casing pivotally mounted upon and carried bysaid tiltable support, adjustable stops extending from the ends of the casing toward the support to limit the extent of its pivotal movement and for eeoting elevation of an end of the casing with corresponding movement of the support, and a mercury contact member mounted within the said casing.

In testimony whereof I alliX my signature.

JOI-1N RYFFEL. 

